Whenever I tell someone that I'm on the Paleo diet, the reaction is always mixed. Some people are excited and intrigued, while others are disappointed and skeptical. The usual response is, "Oh you're on the caveman diet?" My answer is to say, "No, I like to see it as a real food diet."

There are several different approaches to Paleo. Some people believe that this is the way our ancestors ate and so we should do the same. Others come to it from modern dietary research and a new view on "healthy eating". I definitely fall into the second camp. There are many reasons to eat Paleo that have nothing to do with cavemen. So, yes, it's called the "Paleo" diet, but the actual diet itself is the thing that convinces me. Here are 6 modern day reasons that I'm sticking with Paleo.

1. I Know Exactly What I Am Eating

I cringe at all of the unpronounceable foods I used to eat. The great thing about following the Paleo diet is that you always know exactly what you are eating. It's funny how trusting we have become of the food industry. We blindly believe that anything in a package has been approved by the FDA and so it must be ok to eat. Never mind that you may have no idea how the thing you are eating was actually made. Now, I know exactly what I'm eating. Meats and veggies, cooked in olive or coconut oil. Simple, unprocessed, and delicious!

2. I'm Cooking and Eating More at Home

Now that I am eating real foods, the need for cooking and eating at home has greatly increased! Personally, simply out of necessity, my cooking skills have vastly improved over the past two years. I was already committed to Paleo and, though my wife Erin has always done a great job of cooking dinner, I usually have to fend for myself for my work lunches. So basically it was cook or go hungry. Now I'm not afraid to step into the kitchen and actually make something to eat (not a frozen pizza or waffle). So, between my wife and myself, our whole family is cooking more and eating at home more also. Speaking of eating at home, there's something to be said about a dinner at home with the family, and I think our family has definitely benefited from this. You always hear people talk about how eating a meal together is one of the best things you can do for your families relationship and I totally agree. Since we've made this switch to Paleo, we have had many more homemade meals together at home as a family.

3. No Grains = More Veggies

Meals used to be a very simple equation for me: Meat + Bread + Potato = Meal Yes, I would occasionally eat a vegetable every now and then, but I often used the excuse that "potatoes are vegetables" to attempt to justify what I was eating. So, when I started Paleo, I had to subtract the bread and, eventually, the potato from my diet. This meant that I was either going to have just a piece of meat for dinner, or I had to add something to the equation. As my tastes changed and I started to crave the right kinds of foods, my meal equation became this: Meat + Veggie + Veggie = Meal. There is no arguing that this was a big step in the right direction.

4. Animal Fats Are Actually Good For You

My latest summer reading includes a new book about the unjustified war against saturated fats. The Big Fat Surprise basically tells the story about how bad science led the USDA and the AHA to declare saturated fats the reason for heart disease. This book has been getting a lot of attention, and it's shedding light on how many of our reasons for avoiding butter, meat, and other sources of animal fat are invalid. Here is a recent Today Show video with a simple explanation. (Direct Link to Video)

5. Low Carb Actually Works

When it comes to weight loss, Low Carb had now stood the test of time. The weight loss that comes from a low carb lifestyle is significant and, if you commit to the diet as a lifestyle, it will last. And it's not just weight loss. Low-carbers have actually seen improvements in overall blood work, energy, type II diabetes, and many other health factors. Gary Taubes, in his books Why We Get Fat and Good Calories, Bad Calories does a great job of explaining why low-carb eating is the most effective way to lose and keep off the weight.

In my opinion, Paleo is the healthy Low Carb diet. No processed Atkins bars or frozen meals. No low-carb junk food. It's just real, unprocessed, healthy food. I do have to intentionally watch my carbs while on Paleo, but it is definitely the most health low-carb diet possible.

6. I Am Healthier Than I've Ever Been

I know anecdotal evidence is not always the most convincing, but this is one reason that I can't avoid...I'm more healthy than I have been in my entire adult life.

Honestly, for most people, this reason is more important than anything else. The fact that Paleo has truly worked for me has been the definitive reason on why I am sticking with this for the long term. This is why I don't take a dogmatic stance against diets that conflict with Paleo. If something else is truly helping someone else, that is the most important thing.

If you try Paleo and it doesn't give you any of the benefits that I've experienced, then it really may not be for you. But don't knock it until you try it! My suggestion is to give it at least three weeks (with no cheats) before you make a final decision.

Forget The Caveman!

Those are my reasons for sticking with Paleo. When it comes down to it, I think you will find that these will be true for you also. I say forget the caveman talk and use these 6 reasons as your real reason for following the Paleo diet, especially #6!

Thanks for reading!

-Stephen

PDF Guide: Stephen's Top 5 (Free) Paleo Resources These are the tools I used to lose 110 pounds on the Paleo Diet. (Hint: Use #5 For an Instant Hit of Daily Inspiration)